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Special coverage
The economic crisis – The EU’s response
The European Union is responding to the global economic crisis through actions on different levels.
Fast facts, background information, progress and more in depth information on main EU issues
Stories - September 2012
Asylum and migration: EU must do more to protect unaccompanied children
28/09/2012 - Justice and citizens rights
In a report on the situation of unaccompanied minors in the EU, the Commission calls for improved efforts at both national and European level to respond effectively and in full respect of the rights of the child to this complex transnational challenge. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|
Quarterly Review shows persistent labour market and social divergence between Member States
28/09/2012 - Employment and social rights
The employment and social situation in the EU remained very serious in the second quarter of 2012 with unemployment rising overall but also displaying significant differences between Member States, households' financial situation deteriorating and child poverty increasing.
September 2012: Business and Consumer Surveys
27/09/2012 - Business / Economy, finance, tax and competition
In September 2012, the Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area decreased by 0.16 points to 1.34. The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) decreased by 0.9 points in the EU, to 86.1, and by 1.1 points in the euro area, to 85.0.
Herman Van Rompuy at UN General Assembly
27/09/2012 - External relations and foreign affairs
Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, addressed the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the European Union in New York on 26 September 2012. |VIDEO 1|2|PHOTOS|
New strategy to drive European business and government productivity via cloud computing
27/09/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission's new strategy for "Unleashing the potential of cloud computing in Europe" outlines actions to deliver a net gain of 2.5 million new European jobs, and an annual boost of EUR 160 billion to EU GDP (around 1%), by 2020. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|
September infringements package: main decisions
27/09/2012 - Institutional affairs
The Commission has taken 361 decisions, including 27 reasoned opinions and 12 referrals to the European Union's Court of Justice.
Transport: new horizons for EU aviation
27/09/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has set out an ambitious package of proposals to boost the international competitiveness of the EU's aviation industry. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|
Commission launches strategy to boost growth and jobs in cultural and creative sectors
26/09/2012 - Culture, education and youth
The Commission's new strategy aims to increase the competitiveness and export potential of these sectors, as well as to maximise their spill-over benefits for other areas such as innovation, ICT and urban regeneration. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|
EU-funded research to make the "cloud" greener
26/09/2012 - Science and technology
A special 3D microchip, being designed by an EU-funded research project, looks set to drastically cut the electricity and the installation costs of servers in cloud computing data centres, cementing Europe's place as the home of green computing.
Safer, more effective and innovative medical devices
26/09/2012 - Science and technology
To ensure that these devices serve the needs and ensure the safety of European citizens, the European Commission proposed two regulations which are fit for purpose, more transparent and better adapted to scientific and technological progress. |PHOTOS|VIDEO|
A new tool for financing the common fisheries policy reform
25/09/2012 - Agriculture, fisheries and food
At today's meeting, ministers had an orientation debate on a proposal for a new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). |PHOTOS 1|2|VIDEO 1|2|3|
EU Farm subsidies: the Commission intends to increase aid transparency
25/09/2012 - Agriculture, fisheries and food
The Commission has adopted a proposal designed to apply new rules with regard to the publication of information on the beneficiaries of European agricultural funds. |VIDEO|PHOTOS|
New EU funding to improve border management and regional cooperation in the Eastern Partnership
25/09/2012 - External relations and foreign affairs
The European Commission has approved a new support package for the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood of just over €23 million that will help to improve security, boost trade and increase mobility for people living in the region.
Multiannual Financial Framework: negotiations approaching endgame
24/09/2012 - Economy, finance, tax and competition / Institutional affairs
In the run-up to the November European Council meeting dedicated to the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2014-2020, the ministers discussed a revised "negotiating box", presented by the Cyprus Presidency. |VIDEO 1|2|PHOTOS|
Environment: many Europeans still exposed to harmful air pollutants
24/09/2012 - Environment, consumers and health
The EU has made progress over the past decades to reduce the air pollutants which cause acidification, but a new report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that many parts of Europe have persistent problems with outdoor concentrations of PM and ground level ozone. |VIDEO|
EU Consumers: settling small cross-border disputes without any hassle
21/09/2012 - Environment, consumers and health / Justice and citizens rights
To avoid difficult, costly and time-consuming legal procedures, the European Union is facilitating access to justice for consumers in Europe, so that they can effectively enforce their rights.
EU-China summit: committed to further cooperation
21/09/2012 - External relations and foreign affairs
The 15th summit with China, held on 20 September 2012 in Brussels, provided strategic guidance to the increasingly rich cooperation between the two sides. |PHOTOS 1|2|VIDEO 1|2|3|4|
Financial report presents data on 2011 EU budget
20/09/2012 - Economy, finance, tax and competition / Institutional affairs
The European Commission has released its annual financial report which describes how the 2011 budgetary cycle was managed. The financial report provides detailed information on the sources of EU financing and gives a basic overview of EU expenditure.
EU Aid Volunteers: Commission proposes new global humanitarian initiative
19/09/2012 - External relations and foreign affairs
The European Commission set out its plans to develop a global initiative that will create opportunities for some 10,000 people from 2014-2020 to volunteer worldwide in humanitarian operations. |VIDEO|PHOTOS|
Transport and Innovation: Commission pushes to accelerate development and market uptake of new transport technologies
18/09/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission launches an initiative to coordinate and focus European research and innovation in transport. The aim is to speed up the deployment of new transport means and solutions to achieve a competitive and affordable European transport system.
Commission and European industry commit to bigger and better robotics sector
18/09/2012 - Science and technology
The European Commission, industry and academia have agreed to launch a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Robotics, to help Europe-based companies take a larger share of the €15.5 billion annual global robotics market.
European Cooperation Day: sharing borders, growing closer
18/09/2012 - Regions and local development
European Territorial Cooperation is an increasingly important theme in EU Regional Policy. Regions and cities from different EU Member States are encouraged to work together and learn from each other through joint programmes, projects and networks.
Commission focuses on international science co-operation to meet global challenges
17/09/2012 - Science and technology
The European Commission has set out a new strategy for developing international cooperation in research and innovation. The strategy proposes to further focus cooperation on EU strategic priorities while maintaining the tradition of openness to third country participation in EU research.
- Q&A : International Cooperation in Research and Innovation
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DOCUMENT. Enhancing and focusing EU international cooperation in research and innovation: a strategic approach
- More information on the EU International Strategy for Research and Innovation
- Horizon 2020: the EU framework programme for research and innovation
Eurogroup: ESM to be fully operational by the end of October
14/09/2012 - Economy, finance, tax and competition
At the informal Eurogroup meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus, the finance ministers discussed the economic and financial developments in the eurozone. The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is expected to be up and running at the end of October 2012. |VIDEO|
Ten things we learnt in the September plenary
14/09/2012 - Institutional affairs
Commission president José Manuel Barroso called for the EU to become a "federation of nation states" and announced a blueprint for deeper economic and monetary union during his state of the union address at the European Parliament. |VIDEO|PHOTOS|
August 2012: euro area annual inflation up to 2.6%, EU up to 2.7%
14/09/2012 - Economy, finance, tax and competition / Statistics
Euro area annual inflation was 2.6% in August 2012, up from 2.4% in July. EU annual inflation was 2.7% in August 2012, up from 2.5% in July.
Report highlights major geographic disparities in education
14/09/2012 - Culture, education and youth
Where you live in Europe can strongly influence your education and prospects in life, according to a new European Commission report.
Blue Growth: Commission presents prospects for sustainable growth from marine and maritime sectors
13/09/2012 - Agriculture, fisheries and food
In a Communication on 'Blue Growth', the European Commission presents promising indications for economic growth and employment prospects in the marine and maritime economy to help Europe's economic recovery.
President Barroso delivers the State of the Union Address 2012
12/09/2012 - Institutional affairs
The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, delivers the third "State of the Union Address". The speech defines priorities and strategic objectives for the following year. |VIDEO 1|2|PHOTOS 1|2|
Commission proposes new ECB powers for banking supervision as part of a banking union
12/09/2012 - Economy, finance, tax and competition
In the new single mechanism, ultimate responsibility for specific supervisory tasks related to the financial stability of all Euro area banks will lie with the European Central Bank (ECB). |VIDEO|2|
Energy efficiency: billions to be made in savings
11/09/2012 - Energy and natural resources
Mandatory energy-saving measures, including renovating public buildings, energy-saving schemes for utilities, and energy audits for all large firms, will be required by an EU energy efficiency directive approved in plenary.
Ageing teachers a challenge for EU education sector
11/09/2012 - Culture, education and youth
The report Education at a Glance 2012, compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), identifies several areas in European education that are likely to create challenges in the near future. An ageing teaching force is one of them.
EU Youth Report calls for employment and social inclusion to be top priority
10/09/2012 - Culture, education and youth / Employment and social rights
The report, which is produced every three years by the Commission, underlines that the EU and Member States must do more to support young people, who have borne the brunt of the economic crisis.
Report reveals wide fluctuations in cost of higher education and support for students
10/09/2012 - Culture, education and youth
Tuition fees are highest in England, where students pay up to £9 000 (around €11 500) per academic year, while nine countries (Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Malta, Norway, UK (Scotland) and Sweden) do not charge fees in most cases.
Transport: EU grants almost €200 million to support key infrastructure projects
10/09/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has selected 74 projects that will receive almost €200 million in EU co-financing from the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) programme to continue improving transport infrastructure across the EU.
Road transport: serious delays in establishing a pan-European road toll payment system
07/09/2012 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has warned that Member States will need to do more to ensure that the European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) deployment is on track.
European Central Bank keeps interest rates unchanged
06/09/2012 - Economy, finance, tax and competition
The Governing Council of the ECB decided that the interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility will remain unchanged at 0.75%, 1.50% and 0.00% respectively. |VIDEO|
Commission urges Member States to recognise skills gained outside school and university
05/09/2012 - Culture, education and youth / Employment and social rights
The Commission's proposal aims to increase job opportunities in particular for the young unemployed and those with few formal qualifications such as older and low-skilled workers.
Employment: EU Globalisation Fund supported over 21000 workers in 2011
04/09/2012 - Employment and social rights
More than 21 000 workers dismissed due to the economic crisis and the effects of globalisation were helped to find new job opportunities by the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) in 2011, according to a report adopted by the European Commission.
Digital Agenda: Commission moves to foster wireless innovation through sharing of radio spectrum
03/09/2012 - Science and technology
The European Commission unveiled plans to deal with the exponential growth in mobile and wireless data traffic by enabling wireless technologies, including broadband, to share the use of the radio spectrum.